
The Government of the United States has revoked over 6,000 visas for foreigners who participated in or facilitated the so-called "birth tourism", a practice that involves traveling to the country primarily to give birth so that the newborn can obtain U.S. citizenship.
The Department of State reported this Thursday that its Task Force for the Prevention of Birth Tourism has exceeded that number of revocations as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on those who use or facilitate these trips.
"We are identifying and holding accountable everyone involved in this illegal practice," he added.
The figure represents a significant increase compared to the data previously released by Washington. In October, it was revealed that the State Department had ordered a review of visa applications and flight records since 2020 to identify potential cases of birth tourism.
That review, revealed by the newspaper Politico, covered information from January 24, 2020, to August 1, 2026, with instructions to U.S. embassies and consulates to refer suspicious cases to the specialized group established in August of this year.
At that time, more than 2,300 revoked visas had been reported. Subsequently, the White House reported on October 20 that at least 4,000 cancellations were linked to birth tourism. The new figure now exceeds 6,000.
Moreover, U.S. policy is not limited to women traveling to give birth but also extends to individuals who organize, finance, or facilitate these travels, including intermediaries and operators of commercial networks.
In September, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, announced new visa restrictions against those involved in or profiting from birth tourism, under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The measure includes owners, operators, and managers of commercial networks dedicated to organizing these trips, as well as intermediaries who advise lying on visa applications and foreign medical providers who facilitate these practices or the fraudulent use of Medicaid, as explained at that time by the Department of State.
Similarly, the restrictions may also extend to certain relatives of the individuals involved.
According to the official rules on visitor visas, traveling to the United States primarily to give birth in order to obtain U.S. citizenship for a child does not constitute a valid reason to use a tourist visa.
This does not mean that any pregnant woman is banned from traveling to the United States, nor does giving birth during a legal stay automatically constitute a immigration violation.
The restrictions are related to the purpose of the trip, compliance with visa conditions, and potential false statements made to the authorities.
The new announcement is part of the Trump administration's efforts to restrict birth tourism, a practice against which the president signed an executive order on August 6th.
However, a federal judge blocked in September the provisions of that order related to birthright citizenship, considering that they were in conflict with the constitutional protection of that right.
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